Designing a Destination

I love roadtrips -- planning them with great anticipation, seeing the scenery and sites. I'm even learning to embrace detours and wrong turns. High school driver's ed teacher Mr. Williams used to say, "Keep your eyes moving. A glance down the road, a glance in the rear mirror and a glance in the side mirror."

A driver always looking foward misses danger lurking up from behind or from the side. But, of course, one can't drive while constantly looking in the rearview mirror either. A traveler has to keep the eyes moving, analyzing the whole environment.

I have a roadmap for my life, too. Unfortunately I've made a lot of wrong turns. Then, too, it seems that often God Himself seems to think I should take a detour now and then (and when He suggests it, a turn is always a good thing). The important thing is to keep the mind's eye moving. A glance at the past to remember God's deliverance is a good thing. Looking ahead with hope and caution is a good thing. And staying focused on the destination is also a good thing. But a person can't live a productive life while spending too much time dwelling on the unchangeable past or spending too much time straining to see what's around the next bend either.

Balance ... that's the hard part, finding the balance. Keep at it, my friends, and enjoy the journey.